#EpsilonsSecond - Epsilon's second Christmas takes place on the Irish Sea, as the chartered ro-pax has a year remaining before the three-year contract expires in 2016 to ICG, parent company of Irish Ferries, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The Italian flagged ropax was introduced firstly on the premier central corridor Dublin-Holyhead route in December 2013. This was followed by the launch of a new continental direct Ireland-France service in January 2014. To read more about the ferry, click the captain interview here.

The Visentini yard built vessel operates the Dublin-Cherbourg route at weekends. It is on these routes that Epsilon has generated extra business for ICG's ferry divison.

Taking the roster of Epsilon over this festive and early New Year periods are in the charge of larger Oscar Wilde deployed to bring added boost to passenger capacity.

This leaves Epsilon to continue, albeit switched to freight-only sailings on the Ireland-Wales, though as to be expected freight-trends tend to dry-up at Christmas. 

Epsilon at time of writing is anchored in Dublin Bay, due to the above reasons and subject to available ferry berths in Dublin Port which are busier at this time of year.

In addition to Oscar Wilde on the Dublin-Holyhead route, Irish Ferries routine ships, flagship Ulysses and HSC (high speed craft) Jonathan Swift operate sailings. Peak capacity is scheduled this week when all the quartet of vessels are to transport passengers and freight.

In addition to capacity provided by Stena Line with a pair of ferries, this year's newcomer Stena Superfast X joined Stena Adventurer on their Dublin-Holyhead service.